Gordon Ritchie | October 12, 2018
2018 Argentina WorldSBK Friday Results—Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) set a 1:39.914 best lap on day one at the brand new Villicum circuit in Argentina; the only rider to get into that bracket on the first day of action. He ended up fully 0.228 seconds ahead of next quickest rider Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) third, after lapping in front and behind Rea for a time in the final FP3 session today.
2018 Argentina WorldSBK Friday Results
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) was the quickest man early on today and ended up fourth fastest. Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) made a sudden jump up to fifth, similar to the tall figure of Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) who took sixth place.
Eventually seventh, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was another ‘sleeper’ to wake at the right time, while the locals have a strong eighth place from Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) to celebrate at the first ever WorldSBK round in Argentina.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) scored ninth fastest time, Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) tenth.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK), Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) all missed out on automatic Superpole 2 qualification for Saturday, and will not have to try and get out of Superpole 1 first.
2018 Argentina WorldSBK Friday Results
2018 Argentina WorldSSP Friday Results—The all new 2.65 mile long track at San Juan Villicum in Argentina provided several challenges for all the WorldSSP riders, not least because it had a fine covering of sand and dust that had to be worn away from its brand new asphalt during the two Friday sessions.
2018 Argentina WorldSSP Friday Results
The best first day performance was put in by 2017 champion Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), with a 1:44.680 lap, which was over two seconds faster than his personal FP1 best.
Jules Cluzel (NRT Yamaha) was second overall, with the other GRT Yamaha of Federico Caricasulo third. The Italian rider was just 0.155 seconds from his team-mate Mahias.
The ever-improving Thomas Gradinger (NRT Yamaha) was fourth, Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha) fifth and recent podium finisher Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) the top Honda rider.
Fastest MV runner was Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) in seventh, and just under a second adrift of the pace of the fastest man on day one.
Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing Yamaha), the championship leader, was eighth and regular championship entrant Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Yamaha) was ninth. Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) completed the top ten.
FP3 and then Superpole 1 and 2 will take place on Saturday, with the 19-lap WorldSBK race starting on Sunday at 14.30 local time in Argentina.
2018 Argentina WorldSSP Friday Results
For more WorldSBK news and results, click here